For all my New Jersey readers (and the tri-state area in general), when I say ‘Trenton,’ what comes to mind? Poverty? Crime? Ghetto? Slum? Well, unfortunately, this is true to some extent. But many don’t know that Trenton has alot to offer to New Jersey residents and visitors alike.
Downtown Trenton (courtesy of Wikipedia)
A few days ago, I made my weekly trip down to the state capitol to visit my girlfriend who now lives in the historic Mill Hill section of the city which is in the downtown district. This part of Trenton offers everything from museums, concert halls, cultural restaurants, art galleries, sporting venues and many other arts and culture activities. I know I use this term alot but it is truely one of New Jersey’s hidden gems and… it gets no respect, in the words of the great Rodney Dangerfield. Everything important that goes down in this state, probably happens in Trenton.
I took the day to sort of wander around the downtown district and explore. And that I did…I put about 4 miles on my Odometer. But I saw alot and it made me appreciate this great state even more and adds to my hunch that I’m going to live here forever.
As I like to do in my posts, I’m going to give a little brief history of Trenton for your enrichment. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, Trenton was a major manufacturing center. One relic of that era is the slogan “Trenton Makes, The World Takes”, which is displayed on the Lower Free Bridge (just north of the Trenton-Morrisville Toll Bridge). The city adopted the slogan in 1917 to represent Trenton’s then-leading role as a major manufacturing center for rubber, wire rope, ceramics and cigars. Along with many other United States cities in the 1960s and 1970s, Trenton fell on hard times when manufacturing and industrial jobs declined. Concurrently, state government agencies began leasing office space in the surrounding suburbs. Since Trenton is New Jersey’s capital, state government leaders (particularly governors William Cahill and Brendan Byrne) attempted to revitalize Trenton by making it the center of state government. Between 1982 and 1992, more than a dozen office buildings were constructed primarily by the state to house state offices. Today, Trenton’s biggest employer is still the state of New Jersey. Each weekday, 20,000 state workers flood into the city from the surrounding suburbs. (Thanks to Wikipedia for this history lesson)
The rest of this post will show the photos I took on my daylong excursion through the city.
Traditional River home in Mill Hill sectionBrook running through Mill Hill Park
Georgetown-esque brownstones in historic Mill Hill
NJ State Capitol building
Dome as seen from inside Capitol Building
Note on photo above: This was a free private tour that I received by the way… Tours are given daily free of charge.
Where it all 'goes down'
Chandelier made with replicas of the original Edison bulb
Majority party meeting room
Planetarium at the State Museum
Painter working hard at the State Museum
Old Revolutionary War barracks in downtown Trenton
So, these are the highlights of my little local on-foot excursion. I encourage all of my New Jersey area readers to take a day trip to the state capitol and experience the buzzing state center. I say the same for any of my readers, no matter where you live. Get familiar with your surroundings. Experience everything your state has to offer. Taste it. Hear it. Smell it. Touch it. Appreciate it. These are the joys of life…stop and smell the flowers. If you do, you will gain a greater appreciation for the place you call home. I know I have…
How I See It... 